Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/297

 The Monument to Oeneral Robert E, Lee, 289

THE STONEWALL BRIGADE FLAG.

Over the famous Stonewall brigade floated the flag that went with Stonewall Jackson from Manassas to Chancellorsville. Private D. P. Carver, a grizzled, scarred veteran of the Tenth Virginia cavalry, who bore it, marched with a conscious air which seemed to say, " We-uns are the boys who did the fighting.**

Wise*s brigade carried two flags — the headquarters flag and the flag of the Fifty-ninth Virginia. The latter was the flag that was twice captured and recaptured at Williamsburg, and cost the regi- ment so many men at that fight.

IN THE JOHN BROWN RAID.

F Company Association, the company before the war of the vol- unteer First Virginia regiment, but of the Twenty-first Virginia during the war, carried their old company flag, under which the company marched into Harper's Ferry with General (then Colonel) Robert E. Lee. It was most probably the only flag in the parade which was used at the capture of John Brown.

PALMETTO LEAVES AND ORIOLE FEATHERS.

South Carolina, the first of the States which seceded, was well represented in the line. The Palmetto (Kershaw's) brigade had over seventy-five veterans in line, most of them from the Second and Fifth (cavalry) regiments. The flag of the Second, the gallant Picken's command, and the flag of the Fifth, which was commanded by Senator M. C. Butler, fluttered over the brigade. All of the South Carolina flags were festooned with long, graceful palmetto leaves, and all of the men wore badges constructed from the same plant. Several infantry companies from that State carried palm -leaf fans in the mouth of their muskets.

Over the veteran Maryland line evidences of Southern fealty waved in the light wind. The flag of the First cavalry regiment and the celebrated Bucktail flag both had evidently been in the post of honor — the forefront of the line of battle.

ONLY A TATTERED REMNANT.

Of all the old flags in the line there was none so ragged as that of Massenburg's Georgia battery. Only a few tattered remnants clung